GM Endless Forms' Shattered Star (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

Poison Fort Save (round 3): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 Dex 4/16

Brelar rears back his head, taking in an enormous breath before unleashing a crackling line of electricity into the swarm! He then moves to the far side of the clockwork device.

Casting dragon's breath

Damage: 9d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 3, 1, 2, 1, 3, 3, 6) = 27 DC 22 Ref for half

Argust will check out the halfling lying on the ground.

Like Karn, Bert retches as some of the swarm tries to fly into his mouth, and does nothing but flee from the cloud of creatures.

DC 18 Fort save vs. distraction, incl. luck: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 2 = 16
DC 20 Fort save vs. poison, incl. luck: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 2 = 29

Down 7 DEX.

Ref: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

After Brelar's blast the wasps aren't looking good but still buzz after the party!

Argust finds that the halfling has magical armor and boots and he carries several history books.

The wasps move over Bert!

damage: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 3) = 8
DC 18 against distraction

And keep saving against that poison!

---

69 dmg

You guys are up!

Poison save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 *fail*
Dex damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Dex: 3/16

Summoning his arcane reserve though his magical ring, Brelar summons forth another blast of dragon's breath releasing another crackling bolt of lightning into the swarm!

9d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 2, 2, 5, 5) = 30 DC 22 Ref for half!

Bert again flees the swarm, coughing and gagging. He's able to resist the poison effects, though.

DC 18 Fort save vs. distraction, incl. lingering luck: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 2 = 17
DC 24* Fort save vs. poison, incl. lingering luck: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 2 = 29

*He's taken three separate doses, and the save DC goes up by 2 per additional dose. Forgot to include that in the last save, but since I rolled a 20 it didn't matter.

The others will like the books I guess.

These guys weren't well prepared! Like me I guess.

Yes, forgot about the DC going up with each dose. It takes 2 consecutive saves and lasts for 6 rounds if you guys are keeping track. I've lost track at this point.

Brelar's last blast of energy is able to take out the last of the wasps!

Out of combat!

The monk had bracers of armor +2, an elixir of truth, and 150 gp. The halfling is wearing +3 studded leather armor, boots of striding and springing, and he has several annotated volumes of Thassilonian lore, with tabs and bookmarks conveniently paced for information that might pertain to Kaer Maga's Undercity. They provide a +2 circumstance bonus on any Knowledge (history) checks related to Kaer Maga, Karzoug, or the Dark Forest (although I'm pretty sure you already had those covered). They are owrth 400 gp if you wish to sell them back tot he Library.

Karn stops retching in the corner and looks up. "I think a time for rest is in order? I have a spell that can restore some of our lost agility from the poison."

"Oh, definitely. I need to do some work on my gun, too!"

Bert managed two consecutive saves, so he's good for now. I'm afraid Brelar is going to end the round at 0 DEX, though.

"Hey, how hard would it be to take the bodies back to the tower and rest there? The food would probably be better."

I'll do whatever you want, Bert. Argust could carry whatever was needed.

Karn casts a spell on Brelar, trying to neutralize the poison.

Caster Level Check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Unable to neutralize the poison, he begins casting restoration spells after the wizard falls into a coma. He then casts a couple on himself.

Lesser Restore on Brelar (x4): 4d4 ⇒ (2, 4, 4, 2) = 12

Lesser Restore on Karn (x2): 2d4 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5

Fort (poison) R5: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 vs. DC 22
Fort (poison) R6: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 vs. DC 22

Dex damage R5: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Dex damage R6: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Brelar indeed falls unconscious as the poison burns it's way though him.

Dex -7/16

After Karn's lesser restoration 5/16

"If we can return to the tower to rest that would be wise." Brelar manages weakly.

Internet is fixed and I'm back! Thanks for your patience!

You never go into negative ability scores, just stop at 0. So Brelar has 12 Dex back after Karn's spells. Falling to 0 has a different effect for each ability (Str and Dex are paralysis I think, Con is death, mental are unconsciousness maybe, I don't remember).

The party moves back up the passage for some time and finds the librarians still standing guard. They seem surprised to see you again but allow you to enter and find rest in the library, providing you with nourishment.

Don't forget you also heal 1 ability damage per night of rest. I'm sure Karn can blow the rest of his spells on healing too. Once you've rested, where do you go?

Also, Karn has a scroll with four lesser restorations, that we can use on Brelar.

Lesser Restoration x3: 3d4 ⇒ (4, 4, 1) = 9

I think that ability score damage can exceed your ability score, except for CON:

Diseases, poisons, spells, and other abilities can all deal damage directly to your ability scores. This damage does not actually reduce an ability, but it does apply a penalty to the skills and statistics that are based on that ability.

For every 2 points of damage you take to a single ability, apply a –1 penalty to skills and statistics listed with the relevant ability. If the amount of ability damage you have taken equals or exceeds your ability score, you immediately fall unconscious until the damage is less than your ability score. The only exception to this is your Constitution score. If the damage to your Constitution is equal to or greater than your Constitution score, you die.

Emphasis mine. ISTM that if ability score damage were capped at your score, the rules wouldn't be talking about what happens when damage exceeds your ability score.

Hm. You may be right. I guess I've just never encountered negative ability score damage before. Usually once someone dies/falls unconscious/becomes paralyzed they stop keeping track of the poison or whatever caused it I guess. But that's good to know for the future.

Revealed a hallway on the map too.

Brelar would like to send out for some acid flasks (x6) and antitoxin (x6) while he rests. :)

My vote would be to continue onward east from where we left off.

With the assumption that the room with the orrery in it is the Centrifuge Room, I suggest going east into the jagged hallway and checking the doors there starting with the one to the south.

Sounds good to me.

The party stars with the southern door:

The floor of this large chamber is covered with sand and littered with weapons and pieces of armor. Halfway up the eastern wall is a small balcony with a railing and a single ornate chair. like a box seat at a theater. A small, empty metal cage hangs by a chain from the ceiling, just a few feet below the twenty-foot-high ceiling.

Sitting on the throne chair is a creature that looks like a brain with two long, slimy tentacles. In front of it are two creatures made of a horrid mass of eyes, mouths, and formless flesh, their countless maws yammering ceaselessly. The brain is Tiny sized, by the way. Hard to show that on the map.

The brain hums and sputters as it casts a spell!

DC 19 Will save from Argust or be dominated by the brain!

The mouthy creatures begin to gibber nonsensically!

Two DC 13 Will saves from everyone or confused for 1 round.

They also spit out acid!

Karn touch attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
DC 18 Fort save or blinded for 1d4 ⇒ 2 rounds

Argust touch attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
DC 18 Fort save or blinded for 1d4 ⇒ 4 rounds

They then move in to swing at the party!

bite on Karn: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2
grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

bite on Argust: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Initiative:

1. Brain and mouthers
2. Bert, Brelar, Karn, and Argust

Mouthy creatures:

Brelar Will 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Brelar Will 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Brelar Knowledge(dungeoneering): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22

Brelar brings the burning! Fireball

Damage: 9d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 4) = 16 DC 21 Ref for half Ugh, well that was pathetic...

Will: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Will: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Fort: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Karn shrugs off the acid and gibberish.

Karn then steps backward, flying into a rage, and swings his hammer at the brain!

Power Attack: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 12 - 2 = 24
Damage: 1d12 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 4 = 14

Good grief that's a lot of stuff I gotta save from.

Will vs domination: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Will vs gibber: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Will vs gibber: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Fort: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

Do we have Protection from Evil for something? I had it checked off in Hero Lab but I didn't put down why. I think my saves should be +12/+8/+8 and not what my stat block says.

Argust is confused! 1d100 ⇒ 37 Thankfully, he does nothing but babble back at the creature.

Unless I do get a +2 from some unknown source of PfE.

Whoops, I messed up the above KN spoilers. You guys can easily make those DCs anyways.

Wow, Brelar wins the award for worst rolls!

@Argust: nope, it would have worn off after you rested and no one put it back up.

Ref: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Ref: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Ref: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

The brain completely leaps away from the flame, but the mouthers are caught in the fireball! The brain is not, however, able to evade Karn's hit! Argust continues to shout back at the creatures!

Initiative:

1. Brain Ooze and Gibbering Mouthers
2. Bert, Brelar, Karn, and Argust

BO: 14 dmg
GM: 16 dmg
GM: 16 dmg

Bert is up!

His mind temporarily deranged by the noise from the gibbering mouthers, Bert smacks himself solidly with his pistol.

DC 13 Will save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
DC 13 Will save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Confusion effect: 1d100 ⇒ 53
Damage to self: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Actually, I wrote brain, but had decided to not try the acrobatics and stepped back to swing at the southern mouther. My bad, had brain on the brain.

Lol.

Bert hits himself!

Two more DC 13 Will saves against confusion for a round as they continue to babble! If you saved against both you do not need to save any more; if you failed against one (or both) you are still susceptible to that creature.

The first mouther goes for Argust!

bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2
grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2
grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

The other goes for Karn!

bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2
grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2
grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

The brain tries to charm Karn!

DC 18 Will save or charmed!

Initiative:

1. Brain Ooze and Gibbering Mouthers
2. Bert, Brelar, Karn, and Argust

GM1: 16 dmg
GM2: 30 dmg

You guys are up!

Will: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 2 = 15

In his rage, Karn looks up with an odd look in his eyes.

I'm not seeing the brain ooze listed in your Post any more or on the map? I'd like to kill it please :)

Taking a step back from the googly-eyed Karnhousk, Brelar cast scorching ray at the brain!

Ray 1 ranged touch: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Ray 2 ranged touch: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Damage 1: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 5, 6) = 23
Damage 2: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 2, 3) = 7

The shock of hitting himself jars Bert back to reality. Calling on his luck and grit, he fires at the brain ooze, then rapidly reloads his pistol.

DC 13 Will save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
DA ranged touch, incl. PBS and luck: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 1 + 2 = 24
DA bullet damage, incl. PBS, luck, and grit: 1d6 + 5 + 1 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 1 + 2 + 3 = 17

@Brelar; It's still on the map. I switched the damage over when Karn said he meant to hit the mouther rather than the brain. And it evaded your fireball so no damage to it. . . yet.

@Karn: Actually, accounting for the +5 because you are "currently being threatened or attacked" you made it!

Brelar hits the brain with two scorching rays! Bert then puts a bullet through its parietal!

Initiative:

1. Brain Ooze and Gibbering Mouthers
2. Bert, Brelar, Karn, and Argust

BO: 47 dmg
GM1: 16 dmg
GM2: 30 dmg

Karn and Argust are up!

Karn takes a step back and swings at the mouther again.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 12 - 2 = 24
Damage: 1d12 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 4 = 17

Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Argust stops arguing with the creature and decides to strike it with his sword instead!

First: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (19) + 19 = 38 for Damage: 2d6 + 21 ⇒ (2, 5) + 21 = 28
Confirm?: 1d20 + 19 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 19 + 4 = 35 for Damage: 2d6 + 21 ⇒ (3, 1) + 21 = 25
Second: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23 for Damage: 2d6 + 24 ⇒ (4, 6) + 24 = 34

Question, does the trait Ruthless stack with the feat Critical Focus?

If my opponent dies then I'll close on the Brian... I mean brain.

Ok, I'm back! Wedding went well, the weather held out long enough for the ceremony, and everyone is thoroughly exhausted now.

@Argust: Yep! Ruthless is a trait bonus and Critical Focus is a circumstance bonus.

Karn takes out one of the mouthers and Argust finishes off the other! The brain, though, still sits in its chair and casts another spell!

DC 19 Will from Argust or dominated

Initiative:

1. Brain Ooze
2. Bert, Brelar, Karn, and Argust

BO: 47 dmg

You guys are up!

Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 Another silly question, can he keep trying to dominate me with the same spell/effect until I fail the save? Seems I'd have immunity to it. Fortunately I made it again, whew!

Argust moves forward and attacks the weird creature!

Attack: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (16) + 19 = 35 for Damage: 4d6 + 24 ⇒ (5, 3, 5, 1) + 24 = 38

I think the default is that an ability or spell can be used on you multiple times regardless of success or failure; the rule is specific overrules general, and all of the abilities that grant temporary immunity after a save are specifically called out in the ability description.

Waiting to see if the brain ooze survived Argust's attack before acting.

Dominate Person doesn't say you're immune to it if you save once so he can keep spamming it all day until you fail if he wants.

Argust takes out the brain ooze!

Out of combat!

The various weapons and pieces of armor lying on the floor are almost uniformly rusted and worthless. With a bit of searching Bert is able to find one item of use though: a +1 seeking light crossbow with a jumbled pile of 10 +1 human-bane bolts.

That's plain mean.

What was that thing anyway?

"Brain ooze. Very smart ooze with some magic powers...I don't know why it looks like a little brain, though. Vanity, maybe? Hey, nice crossbow! I don't need it--you want it, Brelar?"

That's plain mean.

[evil GM laugh!]

Brelar examines the crossbow and the bolts. "Hmmmm. Yes, I'll take these for now I suppose. Follow the hallway northeast?"

Karn nods. "Aye, let us follow the hallway."

Bert nods. "Yup!"

Sorry to disappear! Move to Madison went well, but it took longer to get internet at the new house than we anticipated. We ended up having to get a new port installed to get the service working properly but it's running smooth now!

The party follows the winding hallway to the northeast and moves through the door at the end of the corridor.

This chamber is a squat cylinder with perfectly smooth walls, ceilings, and floors. In the center rises a stepped dais like a five-foot-high ziggurat, with a flat platform on its top.

A grotesquely fat gnome with tattered robes sits at the top of the ziggurat with a mad look in his eyes which openly weep blood. "Ah! Worshipers, perhaps? Come to see the might of Luonim the Vast? Watch my magic lever! With it I control the spin of Golarion itself as it plummets through the vastness of the Tapestry!" With a wild laugh he throws a lever at the top of the ziggurat and the room begins to spin!

bull rush against Argust: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
bull rush against Bert: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34
bull rush against Karn: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23
bull rush against Brelar: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30

The room is spinning clockwise, so you will fly counterclockwise in a circle for bull rush purposes.

Initiative:

1. Karn, Brelar, Argust, and Bert
2. Luonim the Vast

You guys are up!

So what did the Bull Rush do? That 26 hits my FF CMD. Can I move? If so,

Argust will take a 5' step forward and full attack the gnome!

One: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (13) + 19 = 32 for Damage: 2d6 + 21 ⇒ (5, 6) + 21 = 32
Two: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34 for Damage: 2d6 + 24 ⇒ (5, 2) + 24 = 31
Confirm Two: 1d20 + 14 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 14 + 4 = 29 for Damage: 2d6 + 24 ⇒ (4, 5) + 24 = 33

If your attack is successful, your target is pushed back 5 feet. For every 5 by which your attack exceeds your opponents CMD you can push the target back an additional 5 feet. You can move with the target if you wish but you must have the available movement to do so. If your attack fails, your movement ends in front of the target.

Etc. There's more but it's not really relevant to this since the room is making a bull rush against everyone every round rather than a creature making a bull rush against an another individual creature.

---

Argust is shifted about the room when it lurches around but he is still able to step up to the fat gnome and knock him unconscious!

Out of combat!

He stole them, that's why!

Shall I finish him off, Brelar? Who knows what else he's capable of, eh?

"No! That's one of the people we were supposed to be looking for!""

Bert ties up the gnome and gags him.

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